15 May 2026

A birthday surprise leads to an unforgettable $10,000 win

Royal Life Saving WA Royalty VIP Club supporter James received an unforgettable surprise this month after discovering he had won the April 2026 Loyal Supporter Bonus Draw, taking home an incredible $10,000 prize.

James, who has been a Royalty VIP Club member since October 2025, first joined after being approached by a fundraising representative outside Maddington IGA. Being aware of Royal Life Saving WA’s water safety programs in the community, signing up was an easy decision.

“I’ve always wanted to support Royal Life Saving because they do important work,” James said.

When Royal Life Saving WA team member Gemma called to share the exciting news, James could hardly believe it.

“I had to pinch myself,” he laughed. “I thought this can’t be real!”

Adding to the excitement, James visited Royal Life Saving WA to collect his winnings on his birthday, making the moment even more memorable.

James has always had a strong connection to the water. Spending time around the water as a child inspired him to become a confident swimmer.

“There was a diving board out in the water and you had to swim against the current to get to it,” James explained. “I didn’t want to miss out, so I made sure I learned.”

That connection to water has stayed with him throughout his life. Today, James enjoys free diving, abalone fishing and collecting sea urchins around Point Peron and other coastal spots across WA.

As a father of six children, James also understands the importance of water safety and supervision.

“I taught all of my kids how to swim and I still keep an eye on them around the water, even now they’re older,” he said.

While James hasn’t shared news of his win with many people yet, he already knows exactly what part of the prize money will go towards.

“I’ve always wanted a pool table, so I’ll definitely get that,” he said.

James enjoys playing pool with his friends, although he admits they usually beat him because they already have pool tables at home to practice on.

“Now I’ll finally be able to practice myself,” he joked.

Alongside treating himself, James also plans to share some of his winnings with his children.

The Royalty VIP Club rewards dedicated supporters whose ongoing contributions help fund vital drowning prevention programs and water safety education across Western Australia.